FabricAir Dispersion Systems

The simple answer is “nothing”. A sock is a ventilation duct created in fabric instead of sheet metal or pvc pipe. The technology is widely used across the globe, which means it’s a technology with many names.

In Denmark, where the technology was first commercialized, it would typically be known as fabric ducts, fabric air dispersion, or textile-based ducting. Whereas the same technology is known as air socks or simply socks in North America and textile channels across Europe.

Regardless of which expression is used, fabric ductwork has unique technological characteristics that set the solutions apart from steel ducts, Spiro ducts and other HVAC ducts in sheet metal.

Condensation is a typical concern in HVAC ducting; however, socks do not have the same natural tendency toward sweating as other HVAC ducts do. Permeable textiles prevent the formation of condensation on the ductwork, which is why fabric ducting does not require insulation.

Eliminating the need for insulation provides significant time savings on a project, which naturally also affects the price. The savings potential also includes materials, and the transportation and storage of these during the building project.

Socks can be used everywhere where exposed ductwork would be applicable. Fabric air dispersion solutions are made from fireproof materials and all FabricAir textiles are UL certified. Fabric ducts can even be made from non-combustible fiberglass.

The efficient use of materials does not only affect the price of the air dispersion systems, but also means lower shipping costs. A textile-based ventilation solution fits into just a few boxes rather than the truck loads of materials required to create a metal duct solution.

The birthplace of fabric air ventilation ducts was a Danish meat processing plant. They needed a hygienic solution for their workspaces; one that would create a draft-free work environment without compromising product safety. Through this joint project, FabricAir became the first company to launch modern air sox. This was in 1973.

Since then, the technology has spread across the globe and more producers have joined the industry. Common for all is the desire to create HVAC ductwork in a better, easier and more flexible way to offer a more versatile alternative to steel ducting.

The hygienic nature of fabric ducts stems from the elimination of condensation, which in turn prevents bacteria, microbial growth and mold. Sox, like regular socks, can be machine washed if they get dirty; some textile ducts can even be autoclaved. That cannot be done with conventional ventilation ducting.

Finally, Fabric ductwork offers unique sound-technical properties, which means air socks are the better alternative in noise sensitive applications. FabricAir offers a LowNoise™ solution ideal in libraries, auditoriums, and the like.

Los conductos textiles no requieren de accesorios como los difusores o las rejillas, ya que la disfusión del aire se realiza a través de todo el perímetro y en toda la longitud del conducto. Igual que las medias se ajustan a tus pies, la permeabiliidad y las perforaciones del  textil permiten la difusión del aire, mediante número de filas de perforaciones láser, con diámetros calibrados y modelos de flujo para la difusion mediante orificios o toberas . En otras palabras, el conducto respira. 

Por su reducido peso y flexibilidad, los conductos son mucho más fáciles de instalar que los de chapa, los tipo spiro e incluso que los de pvc o los que se construyen con paneles de fibra. Esta facilidad de instalación significa un ahorro en el número de horas de mano de obra requeridas para la instalación, y que afecta al coste de la solución de los conductos del aire.

El coste del sistema de ventilación mediante chapa metálica, es normalmente unas 5 veces superior al de la solución textil. Por ello, el potencial de ahorro al cambiar de metal a textil es enorme. La diferencia del coste radica especialmente en las horas de trabajo requeridas en el proyecto y la instalacion de la solucion HVAC. Además, la difusión mediante conducto textil, facilita ahorros de energía de hasta el 40% en el funcionamiento del sistema.

Una solución mediante conductos metálicos requiere el equilibrado e incluso adicionalmente, aislamiento acústico, calorifugado o pintado. Los conductos textiles son la solución lista para funcionar que no requiere estas tareas adicionales en obra. Las soluciones textiles estan hechas a medida y listas directamente  para su uso al salir de la caja de embalaje.